What is a trimless LED downlight

A trimless LED downlight is a recessed light fixture that has no exposed trim flange. Strictly speaking, it is a flangeless luminaire but not trimless. Every downlight has a trim which is defined as the visible portion of the luminaire when looking up into it. A recessed luminaire of the classic design has a self-flanged reflector trim that comes with an integral a trim flange (also known as a trim ring). The reflector trim is often mechanically retained with torsion springs or retention clips which hold the flange tight to the finished ceiling surface. The trim flange thus acts as a cover to hide the unfinished hole for a seamless look while preventing the luminaire from penetrating into the ceiling.

Architectural integration

Trimless LED downlights eliminate the flange to create a visually clean ceiling aesthetic. Clean lines, minimalist appeal and architectural integration take precedence over the ornate and all things frilly in modern and contemporary designs. Trimless recessed lighting enables seamless integration of lighting and architecture, making the light fixtures an integral part of the interior design composition and its architectural style. The clean and sophisticated look is embraced by upscale retail stores, modern offices, high-end residences, prestigious hospitality spaces, galleries and museums in a huge way. Trimless recessed lighting is the most unobtrusive way to introduce ambient, accent and task light into a space. Delivering inconspicuous light that appears to shine from a hole in the ceiling, flangeless trim downlights perfectly demonstrate the design ethos of recessed lighting.

Installation

Trimless LED downlights are designed for installation in drywall ceilings. The trimless look is accomplished by mudding a plaster plate (mud-in trim) to the ceiling. The mud-in trim is a perforated, die-cast or steel mesh plate which allows for drywall compound to be applied and attached to the gypsum board. It is secured to the downlight housing aperture and gypsum board prior to mudding or finishing of ceiling. The mud-in trim includes a cardboard insert or plastic plaster shield which prevents mudding inside aperture. The drywall compound is applied to the mud-in trim until drywall compound level with the ceiling surface. Remove the plaster shield in the mud-in trim when the fully dried ad cured surface over mud-in trim and plaster shield gives appearance of a perfectly flat ceiling. The LED driver and light engine are then installed in place from below ceiling. The flangeless trim is snapped into the mud-in trim to complete the installation process.

The flangeless trim and light module

Flangeless trims are available in different types of recessed LED luminaires, including downlights with round or square apertures, as well as reflector trims, wall wash trims, slope trims, baffle trims, eyeball trims, gimbal trims, and retractable trims. The trims are installed in downlight housings that are available in new construction, remodel, Chicago Plenum, Air-tight IC and Non-IC options. The light engine is more often designed as an integrated assembly rather than a lamp-based assembly. The LED module, which mounts SMD, COB or high power LEDs onto a metal core printed circuit board (MCPCB) or ceramic substrate, is attached to the aluminum heat sink. Thermal interface materials may be used between the MCPCB and the heat sink to minimize the interfacial contact resistance. The integrated design allows the thermal transfer path dimensioned to cope with the applied power load and ensure high efficiency heat flow from the LED junction to the ambient environment.

Optical design

The light engine of an accent lighting system usually includes a clear polymer LED lens which harnesses the power of total internal reflection (TIR) to extract and control all of the light produced by the LED. The TIR lens changes the distribution, regulation or distraction of luminous flux and throws flattering light on a specific design element. Optical control of light distribution for general lighting and wall washing applications is provided by the flangeless trim.